Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken with EU officials on the negotiations with the Nigerian Government on an agreement to allow Italy and other EU member states to return Nigerian migrants not found eligible for asylum.

​The UK has exercised its right not to opt in to the EU Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations on an agreement between the European Union and Nigeria on readmission.

The UK recognises the responsibility countries have to accept the return of their own nationals when they have no right to remain elsewhere and to control their own borders. Our High Commission in Nigeria works closely with our EU partners on this agenda including through sharing expertise on returns arrangements. In conjunction with the EU and other member states the UK is pursuing a comprehensive approach to addressing migration, including from Nigeria.